Anyone got 3200 predictions? The way I see it is that there is gonna be a race for first between Lauman and Nash. Then the race for third could really be any of the 20 dudes that are in the 9:30-9:20 range. Maybe Milligan could take it but I don’t think he has the foot speed to roll with a Lauman/Nash kick.
With the state's two top guys focused on Friday's mile, this is a tightly grouped field. I predict some surprises in the top 3. Milligan could get away with a couple guys nobody expects.
I lredict that nobody will care except those in the race but they will know its somewhat diminished achievement without the top runners choosing not to compete. Im surprised Drake is doing this but they're desparate. Truly shows how important the HS $$$ is to the success of the meet.
I lredict that nobody will care except those in the race but they will know its somewhat diminished achievement without the top runners choosing not to compete. Im surprised Drake is doing this but they're desparate. Truly shows how important the HS $ is to the success of the meet.
I still think that is going to be very exciting. Yeah the two top dudes aren’t doing it, but I bet it’s still gonna be faster than two years ago when the winning time was 9:16. Yeah Drake is doing this for money but it’s still great for high schoolers of any level to be able to compete on such an exciting stage.
Is Drake really getting that much more money for including two races for elite high school kids? That's a whole, what, 24 more kids? That isn't going to bring in much more money. They aren't "desperate"...they've just noticed Iowa has some pretty fast kids right now, and it's a way to set them up to run fast and get some more attention for the state and the meet.
Is Drake really getting that much more money for including two races for elite high school kids? That's a whole, what, 24 more kids? That isn't going to bring in much more money. They aren't "desperate"...they've just noticed Iowa has some pretty fast kids right now, and it's a way to set them up to run fast and get some more attention for the state and the meet.
I disagree. I think the Iowa kids are capable of running fast against each other. They've already traveled out of state during post season CC and indoors and have done incredibly well.
I think this is more about 1 kid and his coach getting what they want, a superstar race, for one year, at the expense of tradition and legit records/history. In addition, those "special" kids will continue to compete after state against those same superstar kids they've already run against.
It diminishes tradition as well as the achievements of the other athletes who will wonder, what if they were in my race? I might not win but at least Id have a shot at something better....time, place against the best in my time/year.
Its just another rejection of the past and those who came before for selfish reasons. I dont expect a lot of younger people to understand this.
Yes, Drake Relays relies heavily on the attendance of hs and below parents buying tickets to as many sessions as they can spread it out to.
I do hope the kids run really fast in that mile but Ill bet it wont get recorded in the meet program for next year because there wont be another reason to have a special race. It'll be forgotten at the expense of tradition and history for Iowa kids. Its the Iowa kids that make the meet special for them, not rogue, one off races against out of state superstars.
So allowing a chance for a Iowa high schooler to run sub 4 for the first time, while also giving opportunities for kids to be Drake champions, who otherwise likely wouldn't stand a chance, is a bad thing? Gotcha.
Is Drake really getting that much more money for including two races for elite high school kids? That's a whole, what, 24 more kids? That isn't going to bring in much more money. They aren't "desperate"...they've just noticed Iowa has some pretty fast kids right now, and it's a way to set them up to run fast and get some more attention for the state and the meet.
I disagree. I think the Iowa kids are capable of running fast against each other. They've already traveled out of state during post season CC and indoors and have done incredibly well.
I think this is more about 1 kid and his coach getting what they want, a superstar race, for one year, at the expense of tradition and legit records/history. In addition, those "special" kids will continue to compete after state against those same superstar kids they've already run against.
It diminishes tradition as well as the achievements of the other athletes who will wonder, what if they were in my race? I might not win but at least Id have a shot at something better....time, place against the best in my time/year.
Its just another rejection of the past and those who came before for selfish reasons. I dont expect a lot of younger people to understand this.
Yes, Drake Relays relies heavily on the attendance of hs and below parents buying tickets to as many sessions as they can spread it out to.
I do hope the kids run really fast in that mile but Ill bet it wont get recorded in the meet program for next year because there wont be another reason to have a special race. It'll be forgotten at the expense of tradition and history for Iowa kids. Its the Iowa kids that make the meet special for them, not rogue, one off races against out of state superstars.
I agree with certain parts of this like who the elite race was set up for, disagree with wont be needed in future as there is other Iowa kids coming up that also could possibly be looking at sub 4 by senior year. Lets hope thats true for multiple reasons and lets hope Drake will show same treatment if it is and run another true mile!
Miles Wilson ran sub 9:20 last year. He is the favorite.
I don’t think so. Yeah he ran 9:16 at Drake last year for 10th place, but Chase Lauman just ran 9:15 at Jim Duncan on a fairly crappy weather day with a 64 last lap to win by 11 seconds. He’s also coming in with the fastest seed time in the 1600 vs. Wilson barely qualifying after failing to get the “Blue Standard”.
Lauman for the win in 9:07 is my prediction. Aaron Fynaardt 2nd, flying under the radar because of the 2A thing. Gabe Nash top 3 in the 3200, 800 and 1600 this weekend.
Watch me be way wrong - well, that’s what makes this event so great.
So allowing a chance for a Iowa high schooler to run sub 4 for the first time, while also giving opportunities for kids to be Drake champions, who otherwise likely wouldn't stand a chance, is a bad thing? Gotcha.
So allowing a chance for a Iowa high schooler to run sub 4 for the first time, while also giving opportunities for kids to be Drake champions, who otherwise likely wouldn't stand a chance, is a bad thing? Gotcha.
Self promotion and soccer trophies? Gotcha.
You’re coming across as awfully crotchety. It’s honestly weird to take such an issue with this. Tomorrow I get to walk down the street and watch some of the best high schoolers in the country, including one who’s already broken 4, face off in pursuit of fast times. That sounds pretty cool to me.
Jaden Merrick, a freshman, ran 9:12, with a 4:29 second 1600. I could see him coming close to 9 for 2 miles later this year, as he is someone who will likely run post-season races.
Jaden Merrick, a freshman, ran 9:12, with a 4:29 second 1600. I could see him coming close to 9 for 2 miles later this year, as he is someone who will likely run post-season races.
https://fl.milesplit.com/meets/511902-belen-home-meet-3-2023/results/892513#.ZErM9GQpAWMMarcelo Mantecon, 8th grader who runs for Belen Jesuit Prep, ran a 9:17 in the 3200 What exactly is going on in this running world???
Jaden Merrick, a freshman, ran 9:12, with a 4:29 second 1600. I could see him coming close to 9 for 2 miles later this year, as he is someone who will likely run post-season races.
2 years from now when we still have Ethan Zuber, Jaden Merrick, Jack Flori, Caleb Ten Pas and Canaan Dunham (plus others who always emerge) we could see a handful of super fast times.
After last evening I’d put Zuber, Merrick and Flori as the way too early favorites for the 2023 4A XC title, and all 3 will be back in the ‘24-‘25 school year as well.